The US Army has welcomed its first openly gay general with the promotion of Tammy Smith. (Shutterstock)

(Newser)
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Less than a year after the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the Army has promoted Tammy Smith to the rank of brigadier general, making her the first openly gay general in the US military, reports the Los Angeles Times. Smith stood with her commanding officer at the promotion ceremony, then her father was introduced along with her wife, Tracey Hepner.

"This part is a little fuzzy for me, because I have to confess, I got choked up," said one Army veteran and friend of the couple who attended the event. "People have been working toward this moment for decades." A 26-year veteran who has served in Afghanistan and Costa Rica, Smith downplayed the social significance of her groundbreaking promotion. "I don't think I need to be focused on that," she said. "What is relevant is upholding Army values and the responsibility this carries."

Here's a tip for both the pro-gays and anti-gays: get over it. Who gives a fuck. Not an accomplishment in the least, nor nothing to get pist about. It is what it is.

MrBrownstone1475

Aug 12, 2012 1:55 PM CDT

The 16% that marked this as "depressing," you should all be ashamed of yourselves. These people are fighting for you.

WallyEFunk

Aug 12, 2012 11:24 AM CDT

There you go, society hasn't collapsed, cats and dogs aren't living together, and I still don't care what others do behind closed doors, because it's none of my business. That is until they are treated like a second class citizen then it is, because someone might thing they can treat me that way as well.